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KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Roger Williams University Softball team began its 2012 season with a 2-1 win over Skidmore University, followed by a 3-11 loss to Muskingum College and a 0-4 loss to Otterbein.

Against Skidmore, the Hawks got RBI singles from Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.) and Kara Lewis (Taunton, Mass.) in the third inning to take a  2-0 lead. Skidmore got one run back in the following inning but the Hawks would hold on to the one-run advantage for the win.

Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) went the distance for the Hawks in the win, striking out eight while allowing one unearned run in seven innings. Pirez and Lewis each with 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Erica Castro (Medford, N.Y.) was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

In the Muskingum game, Pirez brought in Castro and Doolin in the top of the first with a two-RBI single. Muskingum would get both runs back in the bottom of the inning. Caroline Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) scored in the second for the Hawks to regain the lead, but nine unanswered runs over the following five innings ended the game early for the Hawks. The RWU defense struggled throughout the game, committing seven errors in the game.

Kelly Marcin (Windsor Locks, Conn.) lasted only 1.1 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits. Pirez was 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Doolin was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The RWU offense struggled against Otterbein, with the team only managing two hits in the shutout. The Hawks did not have a runner advance past second base. Conversely, the Cardinals rapped nine hits while scoring twice in each of the third and sixth innings.

Doolin took the loss for the Hawks, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings. Lewis gave up two unearned runs in an inning pitched while hitting a double in three at-bats. Kaitlyn Costa (Cranston, R.I.) finished the day 2-for-3.

Roger Williams will take on Rutgers-Camden and Austin in their next doubleheader.